As the rhythm section for teen pop-rock powerhouse Kicking Daisies, Carly and Caitlin Kalafus never quite felt at home with the band's bubblegum image.

Sure, they got to play on national TV, tour the country and write their own songs. They even won Radio Disney's Next Big Thing contest and were covered in the New York Times.

"But as much fun as it seemed to be, it never really felt like what were truly meant to do," Carly, 17, said in a phone interview last week.

"I did write most of the songs," Caitlin, 20, added, "but it didn't feel like anything that was coming directly from my heart and soul."

So, after parting ways with Kicking Daisies last year, the Calafus sisters, of Milford, decided to strike out on their own, forging a new sound that's darker, moodier and more mature than the music of their erstwhile project.

Calling themselves Like Violet, the siblings headline the Space in Hamden on Friday, Nov. 8. 404ERROR, The Distractions, Moving Brooklyn and The Go To will open.

"We were playing real-ass pop music in Kicking Daisies," Carly said. "With Like Violet, we still have some pop influences, but once we really found ourselves, it got darker and spacier -- it's way more real."

Carly, who now handles lead vocals in addition to her duties on bass, is "really peeking through now," both in terms her stage presence and creative input, Caitlin said.

"It's everything I feel, too," added the elder sister. "I finally get to be creative on the drums."

In the wake of Kicking Daisies' break-up, Caitlin and Carly didn't miss a beat, launching Like Violet a month later (citing creative differences, KD memebrs Ben Spremulli and Duran Visek went on to form their own band, The Silent Scene). After enlisting guitarist Shaepes Valleau, they toured the Northeast, sharing the stage with the likes of Sublime, Cypress Hill, Mutemath and Hollywood Ending.

Like Violet are currently working on their debut LP.

"We're in the process of writing tons and tons of music before we go into the studio and make it happen," Caitlin said. "We have huge plans for next year."

Part of that plan involves Carly graduating a semester early from Milford's Jonathan Law High School.

"I wanted music to happen for me sooner rather than later," Carly said. "I was tired of waiting. Soon, we're going to make Like Violet a 24/7 deal."

This sense of urgency is understandable. For the Calafus sisters, the decision to form their own band is a long time coming. They spent a huge chunk of their adolescence building Kicking Daisies brand, and now, they're eager to being that process again with Like Violet.

"We're in the calm before the perfect storm," Caitlin said, her sister adding, "We're making commitments."